Pediatrics
Core concepts
Pediatric questions test growth and development milestones, immunization schedules, dehydration assessment, and common infections. Know developmental red flags by age (social smile, head control, sitting, walking, first words), the WHO/CDC growth chart interpretation, and the signs of respiratory distress in children (grunting, retractions, nasal flaring). Master the approach to fever in infants (age-stratified workup), bronchiolitis (RSV, supportive care), croup (barking cough, stridor, dexamethasone), and acute otitis media criteria. Understand neonatal jaundice timing (physiologic vs pathologic) and dehydration classification by percentage weight loss and clinical signs.
Common traps
Age is a powerful discriminator: fever in a neonate under 28 days requires full sepsis workup and hospitalization regardless of appearance; in older children, observation may be reasonable. Do not confuse croup (inspiratory stridor, barking) with epiglottitis (drooling, tripod, muffled voice - emergency). Distractors often offer antibiotics for viral bronchiolitis or unnecessary imaging. Watch for questions on oral rehydration solution composition and zinc supplementation in diarrhea.
Worked example
A 10-month-old with 2 days of watery diarrhea, sunken eyes, and lethargy. Rule of thumb: severe dehydration = IV/NG fluids; some dehydration = oral rehydration solution; no dehydration = home fluids plus zinc; reassess frequently.
Rule of thumb
In pediatrics, weight-based dosing and age-based risk stratification drive nearly every answer.